this morning, presidential pitch. >> convention season ends with the president's plea to the undecided. asking for another term to complete his vision for recovery. the dnc's crowning night, full of emotion from the vice president. to a passionate pledge of allegiance from gabby giffords. also this morning, the most important monthly jobs report yet, threatening to spoil the president's post-convention bump. runaway car. a runaway car on a busy highway. a baby in the backseat. a deputy, in the right place at the right time. and mtv's wild night. outrageous and funky fashions on display, as always, at the annual vmas.

good friday morning, everyone. we begin this friday with the first day of the rest of the campaign. >> home stretch. here we go. president obama, last night, wasting no time, today, i should say, hitting the campaign trail, after accepting the nomination last night in charlotte. laying out the progress that's been made, but the problems also still being faced. now, he and challenger, mitt romney, head into the final days. >> abc's brandi hitt covered both conventions. she joins us from charlotte this morning, live. hi, brandbrandi. >> reporter: hi, paula. good morning, rob, as well. the president told voters the journey of hope is not over just yet. the big question now is will voters continue to stand with him? as president obama accepted the

democratic nomination in charlotte, he asked voters for another four years. >> you elected me to tell you the truth. [ applause ] and the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades. >> reporter: the president told americans frustrated with his first term, there are two different paths to choose from. >> we can give more tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas. or we can start rewarding companies that open new plants and train new workers and create new jobs here in the united states of america. >> reporter: he even threw a few punches at mitt romney over foreign policy. >> you might not be ready for diplomacy with beijing if you can't visit the olympics without insulting our closest ally. >> reporter: vice president joe biden also laid out plenty of attacks, while defending the president. >> this man has courage in his soul, compassion in his heart,

and a spine of steel. osama bin laden is dead and general motors is alive. >> reporter: the night was full of celebrities, performances, and tears, as former congresswoman gabby giffords delivered the pledge of allegiance. >> liberty and justice for all. >> reporter: at the end of the night, the president hit home his same message from 2008. >> if you share that faith with me, if you share that hope with me, i ask you, tonight, for your vote. >> reporter: you can see the party is now over. but the campaign continues. both the obamas and bidens are going to be traveling to new hampshire this afternoon to campaign. and it comes on the same day as we expect a big, new jobs report from the month of august. the unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged. rob and paula? >> brandi, is the president expecting to see a bump in the

polls? especially with the new jobs report out this morning? >> reporter: definitely. we spoke to several analysts. they all believe that after a convention like this, he may see a slight bump in the polls. this race has been tight from the beginning. and they say after mitt romney saw a slight bump after his convention, it's tied up again. they think that's likely to happen in this case, as well. they don't see a difference in the polls showing up until next month. that's when we have the big debates. that's when voters really start deciding who they're going to vote for, if they're undecided at this point. >> you've covered the rnc, hurricane isaac, the dnc now. i think you can go home. safe travels in your trip, right? >> reporter: thank you very much. i will do that today. and some other political notes to pass on to you this morning. the second night of the democratic convention actually beat the nfl season opener between the giants and the cowboys. >> nielsen says bill clinton's speech between the hours of 10:00 and 11:00 eastern time, drew an estimated 25 million

viewers. that's 5 million more than were watching the nfl's opening night game, which rob just mentioned. and the cowboys, of course, won. from massachusetts, a new kennedy is now entering the political fray. joseph kennedy iii beat two other democrats last night in a primary election for the seat being vacated by long-time congressman barney franks. kennedy is just 31 years old. he's the grandson of the late robert f. kennedy. we're beginning to get some details from a new book by investigative reporter bob woodward. "the price of politics" will be published tuesday. it chronicles the secret negotiations between president obama and house speaker john boehner, as they tried to cut a spending and debt deal last summer. woodward writes that an agreement was tantalizingly close and the stakes were higher than anyone realized. he talked exclusively to abc's diane sawyer. >> you talk about it that the 44 days were the financial

equivalent of the cuban missile crisis? >> it was so serious, they couldn't tell the world how bad it was at the time. >> woodward also details how the proposed agreement fell through when mr. obama asked mr. boehner for more tax increases. woodward reveals more on "world news" and "nightline." it's an abc news exclusive. >> a fly on the wall, man. all right. it is a guilty verdict for drew peterson. the chicago area police sergeant charged with killing his third wife. a jury convicted peterson largely on hearsay evidence from friends and relatives of kathleen savio and stacy peterson, wife number four who vanished in 2007. he sat stills the verdict was read. but savio's family could not hold back their emotions. >> finally, somebody heard kathleen's cry. 12 people did the right thing. >> i'll never have my sister again. i'll see her in the cemetery. but at least i know she got justice. >> there is no death penalty in

illinois. but peterson could spend the rest of his life in prison. he's not been charged in stacy peterson's disappearance. in other news this morning the catholic bishop of kansas city, missouri, has been found guilty of shielding an abusive priest. he waited six months before reporting that a priest had child pornography on his computer. he was guinn a six-month sentence. an earthquake has shaken up beverly hills for the second time in a week. the 3.4 trembler struck just after midnight. fire officials are out checking for damage. and a broken-off remnant of hurricane isaac that made its way back to the gulf has a 30% chance of becoming a tropical storm. the rejuvenated storm will it could bring in another wave of heavy rain and flooding from coastal areas, from louisiana to florida. katrina is the only modern example of a dissipated storm

that reformed into a hurricane. very rare for this to happen. >> let's keep our fingers crossed for the gulf coast getting a break. time, now, for weather from across the country as we start this weekend. scattered showers and thunderstorms from the gulf coast to the carolinas. hail, 70-mile-per-hour winds and also a chance of tornadoes around detroit, st. louis, memphis and little rock. more monsoon storms in the southwest. >> yet another triple-digit day in dallas and phoenix. 80s and 90s in the rockies. upper 80s from atlanta to new york. coming up, imagine this. 73 years at 1 company. think we could do this show for 73 years? >> no. because we age in dog years. >> that's true. >> a very long-serving employee finally calls it a career. also, the death toll rises in an outbreak at a popular national park. and talk about a foul ball. the guy who just couldn't play fair with some eager, young fans.

welcome back. it is the big focus every first friday of the month. but the august employment report out today, 8:30 a.m. eastern, from the labor department, carries extra significance this close to the presidential election. today's number follows thursday's adp private payroll report showing 200,000 new jobs created last month. optimism about jobs and progress on the european economic crisis helped fuel that powerful rally on wall street yesterday, sending stocks into their highest level in four

years. the dow jones industrial average jumped 244 points. overseas markets are heading higher this morning. we haven't even seen the first weekend of the nfl season. and already super bowl ad space, almost gone. cbs has the big game this season. and is set to announce today that ad time is more than 90% sold, with 30-second commercial time going for as much as $3.8 million. and talk about a loyal employee. 92-year-old rose syracuse is retiring from macy's in new york after 73 years on the job. the longest-serving employee in the store's history. fdr was in the white house when she started. and get this. it's the only place she's ever worked. she says it breaks her heart to leave. but rose is only retiring because she recently fell and broke her hip. you go, girl. >> you don't see that kind of job loyalty in younger generations these days. that is a bygone era. >> only in this business. when we come back this friday, important, new findings

about breast cancer screenings and the test that could put some women at greater risk. and later, runaway car rescue. a driver passes out with a baby onboard. how one hero headed off a disaster. only six degrees separate the body temperature of chocolate lovers from the melting point of chocolate. so when you take hershey's chocolate and add bubbles, it deliciously melts the moment you take a bite. hershey's air delight. it just might make you melt.

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an ominous scene over the phoenix skyline. another massive dust storm, has rolled in. the 2,500-foot wall of dust descended on the city yesterday afternoon, driven by powerful winds. it reduced visibility to a quarter-mile and triggered flight delays at the main airport. now look at road conditions. monsoon storms could kick up more trust and also drench highways in the southwest. drivers from ohio to arkansas will have to deal with wet roads, hail and high winds. a slick ride in new orleans to the southeast. >> if you're flying the friendly skies, delays are possible in detroit, chicago, kansas city,

memphis and phoenix. and this morning, a third visitor to yosemite national park has died of hantavirus. >> the newest cases were among visitors to a second area of the park, the high sierra camp. as many as 16,000 have stayed in the 2 affected areas this summer. there's no cure for the disease. it's extremely rare. a man flying back home to texas to celebrate his 29th birthday appears to be the victim of an air scare hoax. the flight returned to the philadelphia airport that police got a tip that the man was carrying liquid explosives. but after after exhaustive search nothing was found. the investigation has been turned over to the fbi. >> look at the resources that were expended. and the delays to the passengers, the expense to the agencies involved, and to the airport authorities. >> it's incredibly foolish and irresponsible thing to do. and bottom line, it's criminal. >> that man was allowed to board

another flight to texas. but when he arrived in dallas, he was arrested on outstanding warrants, issued by texas law enforcement officials. no word, yet, on what they were for. a sheriff's deputy in utah is being called a hero this morning after stopping a runaway car. officer matt boucher, his dash cam caught it all. a male driver had passed out. a 3-year-old was in the backseat. with the car at a crowell, boucher reached in and applied the emergency break. the driver woke up and was taken to an ambulance. a new study suggests that mammograms for young women who at high risk of breast cancer may actually do more harm than good. researchers found that women who had a history of chest radiation in their 20s had a 43% higher risk. they say mri's actually the safer choice for young women. although mammograms are clearly

beneficial for women over 50. a little sports now. with a 10-6 win over the yankees last night, the baltimore orioles moved into a first-place tie with the bronx bombers. highlights from other games now, from espn. >> good morning. my name todd grisham. this is your "sportscenter" update. the nationals. parker doing his part. a triple. and with that, he becomes the fifth teenager in the live ball era to hit seven triples in a season. well done, bryce. he's been on fire. next batter, ryan zimmerman, grounds to the pitcher. wait. wait. and takes off. and he's going to score. nice hustle. we're tied at 1-1. bottom of the fifth. cubs down 7-2. bases loaded. jayson werth fouls it off.

heath clemanger goes to change mitts. porter goes to say werth swang at the 3-0 pitch. benches clear. no punches were thrown. a bunch of guys standing around. exciting stuff. sixth inning, castillo, whoa. the teenager, harper. harper has some words. benches clear again. this time, we got pushing and shoving. i like it. even roger bernadina has to be held back. ejections everywhere. but the nationals win it, 9-2. rangers and royals. we cut right to the nitty-gritty. top of the tenth. game tied at 4-4. michael young singles to center. ian kinsler scores. rangers win it, 5-4. that was your "sportscenter" update. i hope you enjoyed it. my name's todd grisham. have a good day. >> i did enjoy it.

>> i did enjoy it. >> oh. >> that was unscripted. that was good tv. >> we're just so in sync, we finish each other's sentences. up next, "the pulse," big winners on a big awards night. >> see how music and fashion shared top billing at the vmas.

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all right. here we go. in "the pulse," this morning, mtv's video music awards. and rihanna's dazzling opening performance. >> if you didn't watch because you were watching the dnc, here you go. rihanna kicked it off with her new song. get a good look, rob. what viewers did not see was her congratulatory hug from exbeau, chris brown. one direction was the big winner, with three moon men. i don't have a teen at home. i didn't know who they were. >> word of a joint appearance by robert pattinson and his ex, kristen stewart, that didn't pan out. he did present an award. but she was a no-show. she was working on a film in toronto. >> you're holding your breath. and a double-decker red carpet, featuring two stories of

dialed-up and dolled-up celebrities. >> the young ladies of the u.s. olympic gymnastics team, all glammed up and all-smiles as they entered the staples center last night. miley cyrus was dressed in block, showing off her new, edgy, punk hair-do. >> and nicki minaj, in a black lace-trimmed getup. and that shocking red hair. >> i love her subtlety. and finally, making a little girl's night at the ballpark. this is from wednesday's brewers/marlins game. one of the brewers tossed a ball into the stands. but some guy outmuscled two kids. the little girl was upset. she didn't quit, though. desperately trying to get someone's attention and get that ball. >> i love her expression afterwards. eventually, a player threw one to her mom. and someone else bought her one. she ended up with two baseballs. and she ended up with a tv interview, as well. she gained her 15 minutes of

fame. >> can't believe that guy took the ball. for some of you, your local news is next. >> for everyone else, we'll be back with the democrats getting their turn with the comedians. i love you, james. don't you love me? i'm a robot. i know. i know you're a robot! but there's more in you than just circuits and wires! uhhh. (cries) a machine can't give you what a person can. that's why ally has knowledgeable people there for you, night and day. ally bank. your money needs an ally.

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ask your doctor if lyrica is right for your fibromyalgia pain. updating our top stories, now. president obama accepted his party's nomination last night for a second term, telling voters they face a clear choice between two very different visions for the country's future. former congresswoman, gabby giffords, provided one of the convention's most emotional moving moments, leading the pledge of allegiance in a voice showing the effects of the attack that nearly took her life. forecasters are giving a remnant of isaac a 30% chance of returning back into a tropical system. more weather. pop-up thunderstorms from the carolinas into the gulf coast. severe weather from the ohio valley to the central plains. scorching heat across texas. monsoon storms in the southwest. and finally from us on this friday, they say turnabout is fair play.

>> and after having a field day with the republicans with their convention in tampa, the late-night comedians took their turn with the democrats. in our "friday funny." >> they moved it inside because they couldn't fill the stadium, period. >> they knew what the weather was going to be months ago. >> they knew what the weather was going to be months ago. i mean, anybody can go on to weather.com and check the 100-day forecast. okay? >> there was only one man, one man, who could rescue the day. the big dog, 42, mr. hillary rodham clinton. >> we are here to nominate a president. >> but on he went, through welfare reform, the

national debt, immigration, with more false endings than a james brown concert. the hardest-working man in politics. >> bill clinton is to the democrats what channing tatum is to drunk girls. he got them very worked up, ready for a baby. and you could tell by the way he ended the speech that he knew it, too. >> and you must re-elect president barack obama. god bless you. and god bless america. ♪ [ laughter ] >> they call that the clinton clutch. [ laughter ] it's good to see they're getting along. >> the last two weeks, we all need a